As a non-TikTok user who often scrolls through Instagram reels, I see much influence from an app that has made great strides in influencing youth over the past four and a half years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The same format of TikTok videos – with colorful, meme-worthy captions written on videos – carries over to Instagram and Twitter. Everywhere, the videos we see, whether they are funny, ridiculous, or inspirational, convince us to keep scrolling.
Back when I did use TikTok in 2020, I could tell the impact of these algorithms highlighted in the app.
Specifically, one video used an audio playback of Greta Thunberg’s words “How dare you” over the instrumental from the song “Paint It, Black” by the Rolling Stones. Above this, the caption “When your friend chooses not to partner with you for the project” was written.
As I continued to explore TikTok, I found that audio like these would be used to portray similar everyday jokes that most people could relate to, whether they were about school or life in general. But as I would come to understand, these audio sounds were also underlining an element that would highly influence Gen Z users: unity.
Among all forms of connection, Gen Z seems to get along best through social media. The sharing of memes, the mindless scrolling when young kids are together in groups, and the ability to see what others find funny or interesting are unifying factors. So when it comes to the 2024 election, it’s no surprise that social media, especially TikTok, is making an impact on our generation’s engagement towards the presidential race.
In one of the most popular examples that has overtaken the internet, a video of Kamala Harris features her saying, “I don’t know what’s wrong with you young people. You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?”
Although she made this remark in a speech from over a year ago, it has turned into a meme for youth voters. Of all possible reasons for its popularity, it is likely because of the blunt message that she sent to them through these words.
Now, the “coconut tree” meme has become a staple for her reputation, and on TikTok, users have further transformed this message into entertainment by remixing her words into the “Coconut Mall” audio from the video game Mario Kart. In one video, a user is seen with the caption “Kamala doesn’t need a campaign team; she’s got Gen Z making remixes out of the Coconut Mall soundtrack.”
Meanwhile, on the Right, videos of JD Vance from the vice presidential debate have surfaced as a way to highlight his looks.
Specifically, in one video, as Tim Walz is speaking, he throws a glance at the camera with a slight smile on his face. Looking like an innocent kid, he does this to convince the audience that Walz does not know what he’s talking about.
Just like they did for Harris, users have taken Vance’s reaction and turned it into a meme, comparing it to the look of Jim Halpert from “The Office.”
In another example on X, they took his reaction and put it under the caption, “Chat, how are we feeling about this?” to mimic this common saying that streamers from the gaming site Twitch often use. In both cases, when viewers see these humorous connections, they are drawn into the meme because they see how it can relate to their everyday lives.
Ultimately, while the messages spread by TikTok’s political memes may come across as trivial, they have clearly reached young people who are looking for a laugh on the app. Furthermore, in both instances, the humor created by remixes and comparisons to TV show characters have engaged these users via the form of entertainment, which, nonetheless, remains a form of political engagement. And sadly, there’s no doubt that in this election, entertainment may be the factor for which candidate can pull the greatest amount of voters from Gen Z.
